North
Mid Coast Maine from Brunswick to Belfast has a rich ocean tradition
for
both ocean transportation and fishing to Maine’s world famous
shipbuilding.
Points of interest include the Maine Maritime Museum, Owls Head
Transportation
Museum and the Farnsworth Art Museum featuring the Wyeth family, who
Mid
Coast Mainers like to claim as their own, are all just a sample of
where
to go and what to see when visiting the area.

Small picturesque coastal
villages line
this area of the Maine coast and provides a look back into days past
when
the majestic seafaring schooners sailed the Maine Coast. Stop and
shop at the one-of-a kind village stores found in this area. Like
Lobster? ... Eat to you hearts content at the annual Rockland Lobsters
Festival. From Brunswick to Camden some of Maine's finest restaurants
are
found in this area.

As in all of Coastal Maine, Mid
Coast Maine
offers spectacular ocean views from the lodging places and great Maine
restaurants that dot the winding coast to the parks, amusement
facilities
and lighthouses that add up to a memorable and exciting stay for
visitors
of all ages.

Jason
Farris, Certified Master
Maine Guide and owner of
Maine Experience Guide Services offering
day & overnight fishing,
canoeing,
camping and hunting trips in the areas of Micoast Maine and the
Augusta, Gardiner, Winthrop
and
Belgrade, Maine area. Lodging is available.
I believe as a Professional Maine Guide one of my strong points is the
ability to tailor a trip no matter how long or short to the clients
needs. New trips include Stripper and Blue fish fishing and Eco
tours on the Kennebec River.

Maine's Mid-coast Region is
defined by coastal
Route 1, which skirts an irregular rockbound shoreline that changes
dramatically from the sandy beaches of Maine's
SouthCoast. Not
only is the pace slower than
at the SouthCoast, scenic
harbors, working
waterfronts and saltwater fishing opportunities abound. In
addition, peninsulas jut out from several spots along the Mid-coast and
each contains a flavor all its own, from historic Pemaquid Point to
the
commercial development of BoothbayHarbor.However,
while the Mid-coast is known primarily for its rocky coast, some of
the most beautiful and sandy beaches in Maine
are found at ReidState Parkin Georgetown
and at PophamBeach.
ReidState Park
features nearly a mile and a half of sand
beaches, dunes, marshes, ledges and ocean, plus a warm saltwater pond
for
swimming.

Swimming is also encouraged in any of the numerous
lakes, ponds and
fishing holes found just a few miles inland from the coast. In fact,
there are
more than a few lovely lakes and quiet estuaries inland to explore and
enjoy. Picnic
spots abound throughout that part of the region, and bird watching
is a
favorite sport for many visitors and residents.
Much of Maine's maritime history is
found
in this region, from the historic and well-known Maine Maritime
Museum in Bath
to the
finely restored row of Captains' homes along Route 1 in Searsport. Of
course, with the ocean so predominate, it's only natural much of the
recreational activities in the region center on the sea, from
puffin
watching to whale watching, from deep-sea fishing to lobster bakes on
remote islands.

Some of Maine's most famous "clam shacks" are also found here
and,
of course, lobster, fresh fish and "chowdah" are always on the menu.
Moody's Diner on Route 1 in Waldoboro, for instance, is a favorite stop
for
locals and visitors alike. Wait till you try their pies! In addition,
there are numerous coastal villages such as Camden, BoothbayHarbor and Belfast,
some where you can go right out on the pier and watch the lobster and
the fish
brought in daily. In fact, in many spots you can choose the lobster
that looks
just right for your evening meal and often eat on a dock and enjoy the
view.

The Mid-coast is also home to Maine's
historic windjammer fleet and the schooners can be found
nestled
alongside lobster boats and pleasure crafts in both Rockland
and Camden.
Not all activities are waterrelated, of course. Naturally, there are art
galleries galore throughout the Mid-coast Region, and antique
shops and
small handcrafted jewelry and knickknack stores are everywhere. There
are flea
markets and garage sales; there are auction barns and auction
houses, and
the region offers some of the most diverse, interesting and memorable
ar t
galleries in Maine.

Two of Maine's most famous festivals - Windjammer Days held
each June
in Boothbay Harbor, and Rockland's Lobster Festival held each
August,
are found in the Mid-coast Region and there are numerous strawberry
festivals,
church suppers, bean hole suppers and chowder dinners to please even
the most
discerning of visitors.

While there is plenty to see and do here, most of the fun is
exploring on
your own. However, here are a few opportunities to get you started:

The Theater Project in
Brunswick is a great place to
take children for a special afternoon or evening of theater. The
80-seat theater features "live" actors and plenty of fun.

The Maine Maritime
Museum in Bath includes indoor and
outdoor exhibitions and features paintings, ship models, carvings,
boats and other marine artifacts.

Eagle Island in South
Harpswell is located about three
miles off the coast. The summer home of North Pole explorer, Admiral
Robert E. Peary, the island is equipped with a pier so visitation is
possible for picnickers, nature enthusiasts and history buffs.

The Woolwich
Historical Society Museum depicts life as it was
80 to 200 years ago displayed in a farmhouse of the period and a post
and beam barn.

The Musical Wonder
House in Wiscasset - which calls itself
"Maine's Prettiest Village" - includes a collection of restored antique
musical boxes, player pianos and related items displayed in fine period
settings in an 1852 sea captain's mansion.

The Boothbay Railroad
Village is a great family
spot. You can experience a steam train ride which wends its way through
a peaceful village and beautiful gardens. There is also an outstanding
exhibit of more than 50 antique vehicles.

Colonial Pemaquid is situated on a point
of land at the mouth of the PemaquidRiver in Bristol.
Archeological excavations have unearthed 14 foundations of 17th and
18th century structures. FortWilliam
Henry is adjacent to the settlement site.

The Maine State Prison
Showroom in Thomaston features furniture,
novelty items of a nautical nature and ship models all hand made by
inmates and all for sale at reasonable prices.

Owls Head
Transportation Museum includes a collection
of historic aircraft, automobiles and engines. During the summer and
fall, special exhibits are on display and include everything from WWI
aircraft to early Corvettes. A number of events are also held,
including several antique/classic vehicle show days.

The Farnsworth Art
Museum in Rockland ranks among the finest
regional art museums in the nation. The collection includes many works
by the Wyeth family and other major American artists from Colonial
times to the present.

The Penobscot Marine
Museum in Searsport is a village of eight
buildings, and the finest collection of marine art in Maine.

The Fort Knox State
Historic Site in Stockton Springs is a splendid example
of granite craftsmanship. Construction began in 1844 and continued for
25 years. The fort was built to protect the Penobscot RiverValley,
and the structure, including spiral staircases of granite, have
remained in excellent shape for more than a century.

Annual Windjammer Days in BoothbayHarbor - some of the
most beautiful
schooners in the U.S.
- late June.

Bath Heritage Days - a 3 day maritime festival with
entertainment -
first week in July.